Afghanistan soldier jailed for killing rabbit in Eccles pub

Adam Gregg, of Lords Street, Cadishead, Salford, had previously admitted snapping the rabbit’s neck before setting it on fire after buying the seven-week old pet from a local shop. He was sentenced to 22 weeks in prison at Salford magistrates court for causing unnecessary cruelty and suffering to an animal and separate offences of racially-aggravated assault, a public order offence and breaching a previous court order.

A traumatised ex-soldier who tortured and killed a baby rabbit in front of drinkers in a crowded pub has been jailed.

Magistrates accepted Adam Gregg, 22, had been suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder after seven of his colleagues were killed while serving in Afghanistan.

Gregg, of Lords Street, Cadishead, Salford, had previously admitted snapping the rabbit’s neck before setting it on fire after buying the seven-week old pet from a local shop.

He was sentenced to 22 weeks in prison at Salford magistrates court for causing unnecessary cruelty and suffering to an animal and separate offences of racially-aggravated assault, a public order offence and breaching a previous court order.

Sentencing magistrates told Gregg: "Some of the details of this case have been truly horrific."

Gregg, a former member of the 2nd Battalion Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, lost the sight in one eye while serving in Afghanistan and was discharged from the Army in March 2010 after testing positive for cocaine.

Defending, David O'Reilly said his client had been let down by the Army since being discharged, and had been given money to spend on drink and drugs rather than proper treatment.

Gregg had approached customers at the Eccles Pub on Regent Street, Salford offering to sell the rabbit.

He was then overheard saying he was going to kill it, before snapping its neck by hitting its head on a table and burning it with a cigarette lighter and dumping it in a bin.

After police found his fingerprints on the box he had used to carry the rabbit , he was traced to the Meadowbrook Mental Health Unit in Salford where he had checked himself in for treatment.